Perhaps the biggest challenge to opening or expanding a laser tag center is having enough start up cash or funding! Not only do you need to buy the right iCOMBAT laser tag system, but you also must pay for employees, a location or transportation method, bunkers, equipment, and more. Chances are, you have secured a small business loan to get started, but there are other methods for raising cash that you should explore.
A great option that many new business owners are exploring are state and local grants. Grant amounts can range from $500 all the way up to many thousands of dollars, and are preferred over loans since you don’t have to pay them back. It depends on the size and scope of your community. The quickest way to find out if your area offers anything like this is to do a quick Google search or visit your local Chamber of Commerce. Sometimes your local Chamber will hold a contest asking all business owners to submit their ideas so the public can vote on who get’s the funding in the end. Several iCOMBAT users have done this in the past and won! Communities always want more in the way of entertainment.
Business owners can also write their local, state, and federal representatives to see if they are aware of any funding available for grants and loans in your area. The economy might be tight right now, but funding is there for those willing to seek it out. My Three Sons, an indoor laser tag facility in Connecticut, recently accepted a grant after applying to the Small Business Express Program in their area.
- Don’t hesitate to ask for public grant money (SBA Assistance)
- Seek out Chamber of Business support and ideas
- Always network with other business owners and find out what they have done, even if they are in an unrelated business.
If you need any help or info in pursuing a small business grant or any type of funding, please contact us at social@iCOMBAT.com. We love seeing our users continue to grow.